Yesterday morning I was in the process of writing a response to what is going on at Gary Craig’s blog site, but my computer shut down and I lost the entire message. I had no time to rewrite it all, so I decided it must have been meant only for me. I’m glad, at this point, that I didn’t post it, although it was nothing but loving. Since then, however, I had a very interesting experience, so I’m thinking that is why I had to wait until today to address this in detail.
For those who don’t know what is happening, Gary Craig (Founding Father of EFT) wrote a blog about why he isn’t included in the EFT World Summit. He stated Nick had “concealed” the summit from him, purposefully, and had also used the EFT name without his approval. He went on to say that Nick has agreed not to promote EFT again! That alone was enough to cause concern among the EFT followers, and had it ended there it could have been addressed by Nick and things wouldn’t have gotten so far out of hand, but it appears the ego stepped in and felt the need to speak on Mr. Craig’s behalf. At that point, he began a list of “misleading” items, portraying Nick Ortner not only as uninformed and aggressive, but also as some type of shyster out to trick people into purchasing his products offered by unskilled and uninformed presenters. Some of the presenters included in the summit are: Dr. Carol Look, Rick Wilkes, Brad Yates, Bob Doyle, Rue Haas, Steve Wells, Lindsay Kenny, Dr. Alex Lees, Carol Tuttle, Dr. Patricia Carrington, and Margaret Lynch. Do these sound like amatuers to you? Well, they certainly didn’t to me either! While it may be true that these are not all certified practitioners (by Gary Craig), it certainly doesn’t mean they have no valuable information to share about how they personally use EFT in their lives. I, personally, look forward to hearing each and every one of the interviews.
On top of all this, the release of this post started a lengthy list of comments by Craig’s blog subscribers (and others), with many of them childishly pointing fingers at Nick Ortner, even to the point of referring to him as a pig. While they certainly have a right to their opinions, much of what was written was about as far from accurate as possible. I dare say hardly any of the negative comments came from those who personally know Nick…and a great deal of what was written could be considered slander. Being an empath, I could “feel” how difficult it was for Nick to be reading those words, and it broke my heart to know he was suffering like that.
As I sat there reading these comments, I grew more and more upset. I DO know Nick, and what was being written is not even remotely like him. After a while, I saw that Nick came online to post a small note saying he would respond to the allegations against him, but he needed a few moments to ground himself first. THAT is the Nick I know! Rather than lash back in anger, he stepped aside to be sure his words came from a loving and yet truthful place. Nick and I exchanged emails, because I wanted him to know I was also reading all that. I had already written my response, at that time, but it had not yet been posted.
By late afternoon, yesterday, my post finally emerged on the Craig blog site. I saw Nick had written a response, as well. Just as I expected, it was done with great love. He simply stated his truth and even offered Mr. Craig the opportunity to speak in the summit on a special “Day 10.” He left it wide open…allowing Mr. Craig complete freedom in whatever he wanted to share during that 2-hour special addition. (You can read Nick’s response (and mine) to the post on Gary Craig’s blog by going HERE.)
Now…the interesting part of all this….
Last night, I attended the final meeting of the book study group in San Marcos. We’ve been studying Gary Craig’s “EFT Manual” for a couple of months now. In fact, the hope was to have Mr. Craig join our group through Skype, that evening, but under the current circumstances, that wasn’t pursued. As you may know, I spoke in an open meeting, last Wednesday, giving my take on how EFT and metaphysics go hand-in-hand. The lecture was well-received, and I was honored to share what I believe. On the agenda for the final night of this study, however, was one of Mr. Craig’s DVDs about spirituality and EFT. The group leader shared with me that Mr. Craig and I had much in common, in that regard. Apparently, he, too has had an ananda experience, and he would be speaking about it in this DVD. We attempted to figure out exactly when he had recorded this particular session, and it was estimated to be about 10 years ago.
As I listened to Mr. Craig speak, in this DVD, I could not tap along. I was flabbergasted at what I was hearing! The entire talk he gave that day was about separation and what the ego can do. He gave several examples of how his own ego had cost him dearly.
He first shared about how he and another young man were competing for the title of “Athlete of the Year” in high school. He admitted the other boy was actually a better athlete, but he said the young man also had a bad temper and few friends. Craig knew popularity would slant the odds in his favor, and he admitted to “gloating” after he won the award. He said he later realized his ego had set him up, in high school. He remembered telling people he played football “for the love of the game.” However, he could now admit it was really because he loved the attention he got. He did a tapping session on how the ego loves to be better than others.
His second story was about getting a young girl pregnant when he was about 20 years old. He paid for her abortion, but did not accompany her to Mexico (abortions were illegal at that time). He said he dropped her off afterwards, at her college dorm, and was “relieved” it was done. He went on with no regrets, but she moved forward with a broken heart and a lot of pain. Years later, he saw her at a class reunion. She was still suffering and had not forgiven him. He tapped on that one as well.
He then really stunned me by sharing a story of how he had been sued by a German client of his (from a time when he was in investments). Apparently, Craig had invested this man’s money and lost it all. In this part of the film, he shares that he spent many nights sleeping on “sweaty sheets,” due to all the anxiety he felt about this. However, after a lengthy trial, he reported he won the lawsuit. Yes, he said it with a gleam in his eye and pointed out to the audience that it was the ego that loved saying that. He added that he filed a counter-suit…under the encouragement of the ego…but lost that one. Years later, he called and asked the former client to meet him for lunch. He wanted to clear the air. They met, although the client seemed baffled by all this. Craig said he realized he was prejudiced against the man, because of his German accent. He believed (assumed) he was a Hitler advocate. However, during the trial, the man had mentioned having to flee Germany with his mother during the Hitler time period. Sitting across the table from this man whom he had earlier gloated about beating, he now learned the man was actually Jewish! Craig wanted to know the story of his escape, but was told “even my children don’t know what happened.” Again, Craig felt horrible for having misjudged this man. The ego had taken center stage, yet again. He and the audience tapped on that, also.
In his final story, he shared about how his mother had given him her life savings of $60,000 to keep safe, approximately 10 years before her death. He took her money and put it in a guarenteed account, and didn’t think much of it. However, he ironically invested $60,000 of his own money in an oil venture, and quickly lost it. He shared with his mother how he lost $60,000 almost overnight. Without him realizing it, she mistakenly believed it was HER money he lost! Nonetheless, she said nothing about this, and just went on living, thinking she had no money left. Just before she died, she mentioned the money, and it was only then he realized she had thought all those years that he had lost her money. He grew very emotional telling this story. When he composed himself, he explained how his ego had never let him really see the love his mother felt for him.
Throughout the film, Craig speaks off and on about how the ego keeps us separate from one another and how it locks us out of Heaven. He mentioned how he had an experience of being out of the human form, and that it is the ego that trips us up, again and again, always trying to convince us that we are better than others…more important, more deserving. He shared that we are all really the same One, and that we must never exclude others, because we are reflections of the One, Being. I could not help but wonder if he remembers this today. It would do us all good to ponder that one for a while.
After watching the DVD, the group leader mentioned the online incident, and since she and I are friends, there was a strange feeling in the air. Fighting back tears and a bit of anger, I explained Nick’s position, to the best of my ability. Nick, you see, is like family to me. He reminds me of my own sons, and I have spent the past two years trying to repay the debt of gratitude I owe to the Ortner family. Meeting them changed my life. Had I not met them, I would still be suffering with fibromyalgia. I would not have three books written. I would not be speaking and I would not even be writing these words on my own website. There are not enough good words to use to describe Nick and his amazing family. When you see the brothers and Jess, along with their beautiful and proud parents, you realize what a blessing these people are to the planet….enlightened, kind, intelligent, loving. I remember the night we premiered the movie. I sat back and watched the Ortners as they sang, danced, and hugged one another. I thought how lucky they are to be such a close and supportive family. I saw the pride and joy in Nick’s mother and father as they glowed in the success of their children. Such a beautiful, beautiful family…so full of love and generosity of spirit. Muy bonita!
There is, you see, a part of this story that most people will never know. Why? Because Nick knows it is a “damned if I do and damned if I don’t situation.” He has chosen the “damned if I don’t” side. I have tremendous empathy with this, because I’ve had to do exactly what he is doing. Sometimes in life we have to make choices of whether to stand up in defense of ourselves at the expense of others, or to just remain quiet and let others blame us in ways they cannot understand. It takes monumental egolessness to do what he is doing. I applaud his courage and I know he will grow and gain from his choice to do the right thing, even at his own expense.
My hope is that Mr. Craig and Nick will be able to resolve this not only amicably, but lovingly. The world needs a great demonstration of unity, and both of these men are outstanding representatives of just that. We are moving into a new world age that will require all of us to put down the sword of the ego. It will require us to stand in each other’s shoes and see things from all perspectives. It will require us to remember we are all just the One, Being. This is a perfect opportunity to call out Divine Mind to resolve the conflict at the deepest level of the soul. I, personally, have asked Divine Consciousness to speak through my words to all those who have ears to hear. If this can be resolved from a higher POV, I know the world will benefit in waves of love. My vision is not just reading that these two men have resolved their differences, but I see them standing on the same stage, laughing and hugging, and letting the world know that EFT is meant for everyone, and is one principle, belonging to no one….but available to everyone. This is what they both want–to offer this tool to every person on the planet. This is truth. Just like Gary understood 10 years ago, and just like Nick says day after day…we are not separate human beings, we are just One, Being. Come on guys…Try It On Everything!
So be it!
I AM…Jodi
www.godisaverb.com/blog
